Cell Phones

Sure, there are any number of phones with dual SIM card slots, most of them built for Asian markets, but the iPhone 4 is about the furthest thing from dual SIM: in fact, it doesn’t even have one Big Person SIM to call its own. Luckily, USBFever has a hacktastic solution to this problem (a followup to their iPhone 3G version), with a new $30 case that can host dual full size SIM cards on the back of an iPhone 4 (entombed in some classy clear plastic, naturally), while running an adapter to the iPhone 4′s micro SIM slot. You can then switch between the two SIMs from the iPhone’s own settings menu, though unfortunately you can’t rock both SIMs simultaneously. Looking for a more DIY approach? Bust out your X-Acto and check out our SIM resizing guide!
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SOURCE:USBFever

We know, half of you aren’t even going to read past the headline before you start angrily banging away about Apple’s admitted antenna gaff and the still-not-totally-fixed proximity sensor, but we’re urging you to look deeper. Think harder. Critique your criticisms. In all seriousness, Apple’s iPhone 4 garnered more attention (negative or otherwise) than any other phone released this calendar year, and for good reason — in fact, Apple itself had to hold an emergency press event just to announce what could’ve been announced in a PR blast: everyone’s getting a free case. That said, Cupertino has still managed to move millions of units in just a few months, and that demand doesn’t seem to be dropping off at any significant rate. If you’re one of the lucky (or unlucky) ones that have managed to procure Apple’s latest iPhone, we’re overly anxious to hear your thoughts on changing it. How would you have addressed the antenna issue? Would you have preferred a less drastic departure from the 3GS form factor? Would you have offered more colors than white and black? Thrown in Bluetooth 3.0 for kicks? Go ahead, the floor’s yours — just don’t abuse it, cool?
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Who knew that credit card processing would be the new hotness for smartphones? The Square mobile payment system has been making waves by letting small businesses receive credit card payment directly on their smartphones. Now, mophie and Intuit are looking to get in on the same action with their Complete Card Solution for iPhone. It’s a $179 package that includes both mophie’s card-swiping phone case and the 3.0 version of Intuit’s GoPayment app. After a quick application users are said to be approved (or, erm, declined) within 15 minutes and can immediately start accepting payments. Full details, including just how much users will be forking over in fees, after the break.

Initial targeted clients were people like plumbers and electricians, but we can definitely see tech-minded farmers at the market relying on this sort of system, along with craftmeisters who shun Etsy and prefer to sell face-to-face. A single account can also cover up to 50 users, meaning an entire sales team could be equipped with these devices. Intuit’s site provides lots of data on transactions and the like, but for the full ability to reconcile to invoices and track payments you’ll need to use Intuit’s QuickBooks suite, either on the PC or Mac.

The big question is, of course, what it’ll cost you to use the thing. $179 up-front is hardly a small commitment, and a further $12.95 per month makes the minimum cost quite a bit higher than Square, which offers free hardware and no monthly fees. Likewise, per-transaction fees here are between $.30 and $.34, double the $.15 fee of the Square. However, Intuit and mophie will take a smaller chunk of the overall payment: 1.7 percent usually, though that could climb as high as 3.7 percent depending on the type of card being used. That compares favorably to Square’s 2.75 to 3.5 percent.

Whether this is a value proposition for your business depends largely on the size and frequency of transactions you plan to receive. But, there is one definite advantage Square has over this system: compatibility. This case, which encrypts every credit card number before it gets to the phone, will only work with the iPhone 3G/S. We’re told an iPhone 4-compatible version is in the works, but it’s anyone’s guess when that will show up. We do, however, know that this current version is available now in Apple retail stores and will be hitting Apple’s online site in the very near future. So, go on now. Get paid.

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Intuit GoPayment and mophie marketplace Offer
Complete Credit Card Solution for iPhone

Mobile App, Hardware Package Provides Everything Small Businesses
Need for On-the-go Payments; Available at Apple Retail Stores

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. – Aug. 26, 2010 – Small businesses can now get everything they need in one package to quickly start processing credit cards on their Intuit Inc. (Nasdaq: INTU) and mophie [cq] today announced the availability of the Complete Credit Card Solution, an all-in-one product that enables small businesses to easily process credit card payments via the Apple iPhone. It integrates Intuit’s GoPayment credit card processing app and quick-to-activate merchant account with the mophie marketplace credit card reader. This package is now available in Apple Retail Stores and soon on Apple.com

As part of this solution, Intuit GoPayment offers a quick and easy application process that is designed to let merchants start processing credit cards on their iPhones in as few as 15 minutes. As an option, GoPayment is also compatible with QuickBooks® Mac to help save time in keeping business financial files up to date. “We designed this to meet the needs of small businesses who want a complete credit card solution that works with their iPhone,” said Chris Hylen, general manager of Intuit’s Payment Solutions division. “Now we have a best-in-class solution from Intuit and mophie to meet that need. This means that a business owner only needs to buy one package to get set up with everything they need to start taking mobile payments even before they leave the store.”

Doing more with mobile devices is key for small businesses on the go. “mophie designs products that enable consumers to do more with their Apple devices and that deliver additional convenience and freedom for all types of mobile activity,” said Shawn Doherty, COO of mophie. “This integrated hardware and software mobile payment solution enables immediate and secure financial transactions on the go for a vast audience of small business owners and their employees.” Enhanced GoPayment Features for the iPhone GoPayment has been on the market for more than a year and has already processed $35 million in transactions for small businesses. In addition to faster merchant account activation and integration with QuickBooks Mac, this latest version offers easier navigation with the ability for customers to sign their bill via the iPhone touch screen. It’s also possible to now add inventory items to receipts, which can instantly be e-mailed or sent by text to a customer for their records. To make GoPayment affordable for the smallest of small businesses, it also offers new simplified pricing with competitive discount rates and transaction fees.

How it Works

The speedy new Intuit Merchant Account application process is designed to let small business owners easily and quickly apply and be approved to start processing credit cards. A user can apply from the GoPayment App, online or by calling Intuit right from their iPhone.

By adding the sleek, clip-on mophie marketplace card reader, merchants can save time by securely swiping credit cards instead of entering numbers by hand. After swiping the card, data is immediately encrypted using Intuit’s industry-standard security methods. Customers authorize the payment by signing their name on the iPhone touch screen. The merchant can then send them an e-mail or text receipt. GoPayment processes the credit card within seconds and funds are deposited into the businesses’ bank account. An additional option lets businesses integrate GoPayment with QuickBooks Mac to easily and quickly match the right customer and invoice in QuickBooks.

mophie marketplace

mophie is well-known for its award-winning design and innovation of iPhone accessories, such as the juice pack line of rechargeable external battery cases, which have virtually doubled the battery life of more than 1 million iPhones. mophie’s marketplace is the only design- focused hardware innovation that adds layers of intelligence to enable payments on the go. The form-fitting, lightweight marketplace design is paired with instant card-encryption capabilities ensuring that all data is secure the moment the card is swiped.

Pricing and Availability

The Complete Credit Card Solution from Intuit and mophie is available for the iPhone 3G and 3GS for $179.95 at Apple Retail Stores and soon on Apple.com. It works exclusively with the Intuit GoPayment App, which is available for free from the App Store, www.itunes.com/appstore/.

GoPayment, including the Intuit merchant account, offers competitive pricing at $12.95 a month, a 1.7 to 3.7 percent discount rate and $0.30 to $0.34 per transaction fee. There are no long-term contracts, cancellation, gateway or set-up fees, and one account can enable up to 50 users.

More information is available at: www.mophie.intuit.com and www.mophie.com.

About Intuit Inc.

Intuit Inc. is a leading provider of business and financial management solutions for small and mid-sized businesses; financial institutions, including banks and credit unions; consumers and accounting professionals. Its flagship products and services, including QuickBooks®, Quicken® and TurboTax®, simplify small business management, payment and payroll processing, personal finance, and tax preparation and filing. ProSeries® and Lacerte® are Intuit’s leading tax preparation offerings for professional accountants. The company’s financial institutions division, anchored by Digital Insight, provides on-demand banking services to help banks and credit unions serve businesses and consumers with innovative solutions. Founded in 1983, Intuit had annual revenue of $3.5 billion in its fiscal year 2010. The company has approximately 7,800 employees with major offices in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, India and other locations. More information can be found at www.intuit.com.

About mophie

mophie is a California-based, award-winning designer and manufacturer of mobile intelligent devices and accessories. It is widely recognized and highly acclaimed for its creative designs and innovative solutions. mophie was the proud developer of the juice pack, first ever “Works With iPhone” portable battery case certified by Apple Inc. All mophie’s products are developed to address real consumer and business needs and are seamless integrations of industrial, electronic, software and artistic designs. Its products are available in Apple Stores, Best Buy, AT&T stores and on www.mophie.com. Follow mophie on Twitter at http://twitter.com/mophielovesyou.

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“The iPhone has no secret for you? Well, that’s what you think… join us and develop the most challenging product of your life!” So reads a now-removed job listing on Qualcomm’s website for an “iPhone Developer Guru” (still cached, thanks to Google). Responsibilities will include “iPhone software design and development but not restricted to it” as well as some Android and… oh, you’ve already jumped to conclusions, have you? The forerunners of CDMA technology asking for iPhone software engineering? Teasing with the most challenging product of your life? We wouldn’t fault for Qualcomm for a bit of boasting, and for all we know this could be much ado about nothing. Then again, we really don’t know anything, and this isn’t exactly some super clue in some giant mystery. Sorry, Encyclopedia Brown; don’t get your hopes up.
VIA:Apple Insider, Slash Gear
SOURCE:Qualcomm (cached)

We knew this was coming and here it is: the Netflix application, heretofore reserved only for iPad users, has trickled down to iPhone and iPod touch devices. Version 1.1.0 makes the TV show and movie streaming app universal — so long as your universe is known as iOS — and looks to massively expand the available audience for Netflix’s mobile effort. What are you waiting for, go get it already.

[Thanks, Michael A.]

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Netflix App Now Available for iPhone and iPod Touch

Free App Enables Netflix Members to Instantly Watch TV Episodes and Movies Streamed from Netflix to iPhone and iPod touch

LOS GATOS, Calif., Aug. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Netflix, Inc. (Nasdaq: NFLX) today announced the availability of its free Netflix App for iPhone and iPod touch, allowing Netflix members on plans starting at just $8.99 a month to instantly watch a vast selection of TV episodes and movies streamed to their iPhone or iPod touch at no additional cost.

The Netflix App is available for free from the App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore/.

“Apple has changed the game for mobile devices,” said Reed Hastings, Netflix co-founder and chief executive officer. “We’re excited that our members can now carry Netflix around in their pockets and instantly watch movies and TV shows streamed from Netflix right to their iPhone or iPod touch.”

The Netflix App delivers a high-quality viewing experience, a broad array of movie and TV choices and a clean, intuitive interface. It is available via both Wi-Fi and 3G networks. TV episodes and movies are conveniently organized into a variety of categories based on members’ personal preferences, popular genres, new arrivals and members’ individual instant Queues. Members can choose a movie or TV episode from any of the lists and just tap the innovative Multi-Touch user interface to watch instantly or to save the title for viewing later.

Additionally, users have the option of fast-forwarding and rewinding the video stream, and stopping at any time. When users want to start watching again, the video stream starts exactly where it was stopped, even on a different device capable of streaming from Netflix.

The Netflix App supports any iPhone or iPod touch device running iOS version 3.13 or later.

About Netflix
With more than 15 million members, Netflix, Inc. (Nasdaq: NFLX) is the world’s largest subscription service streaming movies and TV episodes over the Internet and sending DVDs by mail. For $8.99 a month, Netflix members can instantly watch unlimited TV episodes and movies streamed right to their TVs and computers and can receive unlimited DVDs delivered quickly to their homes. With Netflix, there are never any due dates or late fees. Among the large and expanding base of devices that can stream movies and TV episodes from Netflix are Microsoft’s Xbox 360, Sony’s PS3 and Nintendo’s Wii consoles; Blu-ray disc players from Samsung, LG and Insignia; Internet TVs from LG, Sony and VIZIO; the Roku digital video player and TiVo digital video recorders, and Apple’s iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. For more information, visit http://www.netflix.com.

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SOURCE:iTunes

There’s a big difference between the iPhone 4 and Galaxy S. No, not iOS vs. Android 2.1 or even Retina vs. Super AMOLED. We’re talking batteries: one is removable and one isn’t — guess which is which? This perennial iPhone “feature” has spawned as entire industry of device-specific accessories that sate the need for more juice while simultaneously killing the form (and aesthetic) of an otherwise pocketable gadget. But hey, it’s your only choice when you’re either too busy (CES) or unable (intercontinental flights) to tether yourself to a power socket. And guess what? Those curvy battery packs that hugged your iPhone 3G/3GS won’t work with the boxy iPhone 4. So, here’s the latest, and one of the first iPhone 4 cases with an extended battery pack to ship. The Mili PowerSpring 4 starts shipping today for £54.99 (or $85 on Amazon). It claims to be the world’s thinnest iPhone 4 battery pack to double your battery life thanks to a 1600mAh capacity Li-Pol battery. That makes this roadwarrior necessity just a bit less evil.

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SOURCE:Mili, Amazon

It’s been promised for years and was said to have gone into production before, but it looks like this time it’s for real — that’s the very first iControlPad fresh off the production line pictured above. No orders are being taken just yet, but that’s promised to be announced soon on Craig Rothwell’s Twitter feed (linked below), and the first run is said to be limited to 3,000 units, which are expected to sell out fast. It looks like that’s just the beginning for the peripheral, though — Rothwell is also promising to support additional phones in the future, which can be accommodated simply by swapping out the two side pieces. Need to get up to speed on the whole saga? Head on past the break for a brief history in video form.

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SOURCE:iControlPad, @craigix (Twitter)

Indoor positioning systems have long been a holy grail for malls and big-box retailers where labyrinthine aisles and massive floorplans that rival small towns often leave customers begging for mercy, but the obstacles to deploying them are many: you’ve got to create detailed maps for every facility where you want it to work, and you need some sort of system for locating users with a reasonable level of precision since GPS is out of the picture. Start-up Point Inside has been hard at work on IPS for some time now, figuring that modern stores and malls teeming with WiFi access points and reliable AGPS are good enough to make it work, and now they’ve hooked up with Midwestern superstore chain Meijer to trial a system in four Michigan locations that will let users locate “more than” 100,000 items in store along with facilities like bathrooms and customer service. Conveniently, these stores have some 26 WiFi nodes deployed, which helps triangulate users down to a reasonable level of precision — though it’s probably not going to be able to tell if you’re standing in front of the Frosted Flakes or the Raisin Bran. It’s a free download for iPhone and Android users, and if you’re close to one of the trial stores, be sure to let us know how well it works. Follow the break for the full press release.

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Retail Industry-First: Shoppers Can Precisely Locate Items In-Store on their Phones with Meijer’s Free ‘Find-it’ App

Point Inside’s mobile content platform enables in-store product search and delivers precise map locations of items to consumers’ smartphones.

Grand Rapids, MI (PRWEB) August 24, 2010

Meijer (www.meijer.com) and Point Inside™, Inc. (www.pointinside.com) today announced that Meijer, has launched its free ‘Find-it’ mobile app, built upon Point Inside’s mobile destination content platform. For the first time, shoppers can see the location of more than 100,000 items in a retail supercenter using their smartphones. Shoppers no longer need to ask store employees the common question `Where is…?’ as items’ locations are represented as pins placed on an interior map of the store. The application also provides updated information on weekly specials and product promotions available in the store, with the ability to instantly locate sale items.

During this pilot phase of the program, four Meijer supercenters have been enabled:

* Meijer at Cascade , located at 5531 28th St SE, in Grand Rapids, Michigan
* Knapp’s Corner, at 1997 E Beltline NE, in Grand Rapids, Michigan
* Gaines Township, at 1801 Marketplace Drive, in Gaines Township, Michigan
* Grandville, at 3434 Century Center Drive SW, in Grandville, Michigan

Point Inside’s platform facilitates the aggregation of destination-specific content, adding the critical context of location to each item. This marrying of ‘what’ to ‘where’ enables shoppers to quickly find what they need at their destinations, whether it’s a specific department, service, like a fitting room or restroom, or even an individual product on the shelf.

“We’re very pleased about the launch of the Find-it mobile app,” said Elizabeth Wilson, online/mobile marketing specialist for Meijer. “Meijer is always looking for ways to improve our customers’ shopping experience. So we are truly excited to introduce technology that not only continues our company’s tradition of innovation, but helps makes shopping more convenient and fun for our customers.”

“One of the most common questions every retail associate hears is ‘Where can I find the…?’”, said Jon Croy, co-founder and VP, Business Development for Point Inside. “As a retail thought leader, Meijer quickly understood the benefits of the Point Inside platform. Saving time, enabling self-service, and making sure shoppers don’t leave the store without finding what they need is a win-win for both shoppers and retailers.”

In addition to locating specific items, and perusing current sales and promotions, shoppers can view a list of services available in the store and determine their locations, such as the customer service desk, restrooms, or even Sandy the penny pony. Another feature is “Remember My Parking Spot”, which shows the location of your car in the Meijer parking lot, allowing you to quickly navigate to the correct exit when your shopping is done. Finally, location and contact information for all Meijer stores is available.

Meijer’s ‘Find-it’ app is available for free for Android devices in the Android market and also for iPhone and iPod touch at www.itunes.com/appstore. For screen shots and video please visit http://www.pointinside.com/press and select Media Assets.

VIA:mocoNews
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Leave it to Apple to make the process of building software to work with new third party iPhone hardware sound like some Kafkaesque nightmare. Here’s the basic gist of it: Apple, just like always, has to approve any third party hardware that plugs into one of its iOS devices over the 30-pin dock connector. What’s new is that before only the first party manufacturer could build software that works with that hardware, but now Apple is allowing that manufacturer to act as a gatekeeper for third party apps that would interoperate with its hardware. That means exciting times for app developers that are raring to mix with the likes of Line 6′s MIDI Mobilizer (pictured) and AKAI’s SynthStation 25, but it’s also a far cry from the land of computers where anybody can build a plug-and-play USB MIDI device, and anybody can build software that speaks to it. It also means juggling proprietary SDKs, NDAs, and other agreements, which could become very difficult for developers if or when the hardware availability balloons. Hopefully we can get something more elegant before it comes to that. Hit up the source link for an in-depth discussion of this issue.
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SOURCE:Create Digital Music

digg_url = ‘http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/21/apple-attempts-to-patent-kill-switch-that-roots-out-unauthorized/’; Just about every mobile operating system manufacturer can remotely delete apps from the smartphones they help provide, but if a recent patent application is any indication, Apple’s looking to lock down the whole enchilada on future devices. The basic concept is as simple as the diagram above — certain activities trigger the phone to think it’s in the wrong hands — but the particular activities and particular remedies Apple suggests extend to audiovisual spying (to detect if a user has a different face or voice than the owner), and complete remote shutdown. While the patent mostly sounds targeted at opt-in security software and would simply send you an alert or perform a remote wipe if your phone were stolen or hacked, jailbreaking and unlocking are also explicitly mentioned as the marks of an unauthorized user, and one line mentions that cellular carriers could shut down or cripple a device when such a user is detected. Sounds great for securing phones at retail, sure, but personally we’d rather devices don’t determine our authority by monitoring our heartbeat (seriously, that’s an option) and we’re plenty happy with the existing Find My iPhone app.
VIA:AppleInsider
SOURCE:USPTO